Dreaming of progress in the next World Cup competitions

It’s been almost three weeks since Spain claimed the men’s 2026 World Cup title. I had a lot of fun tracking the results of the knock out rounds with a group of international fans online and in person in our favourite pub watching on the big screen eating super fresh fish and chips.

Here I am celebrating the big win:

I wrote a month ago about the number of women serving as referees in the global competition. I never saw a game where one of the women served as a centre referee, but I did see a game where one of the women was one of three refs in the VAR control room.

Although women officiated in three group stage matches as centre refs, and another four as non-centre refs, to date no woman has ever refereed a men’s final (quarter, semi or gold). However, Tori Penso, the American referee, was stellar as the centre ref for the Women’s World Cup final in 2023, which Spain also won.

I’m really hoping that the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Men’s World Cup have more women in the refereeing ranks. At a minimum, perhaps their presence will reduce the number of shenanigans displayed by the male players. One can dream, right?

— MarthaFitat55 has never played soccer, but once scored a goal in her exceedingly short career as a forward in floor hockey.